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You’ve packed your clothes, maps and snacks. Your bike is waxed, gassed, and has had its regular tune up. You’re mentally prepared for the trip: just you, your bike, and the open road, but you still feel like something’s missing from your cross-country road trip. To help you out, we’ve assembled this list of the coolest motorcycle gadgets you probably haven’t thought of. Whether you’re most concerned with safety, looking cool or having fun, look over this checklist before jumping on your bike and revving off.

1. Garmin GPSMap 378/478 - To avoid getting lost on your next cross-country trip, make sure you’ve attached this GPS navigator to your bike. While most GPS systems include street maps, this version also features most inland lakes and rivers too.
2. Delphi Roady XT Satellite Radio - Instead of worrying about packing your CDs or mp3 player, buy a portable satellite radio, and you’ll experience never-ending, uninterrupted radio channels the entire time you’re riding. Satellite radio features the best reception out there, and you can scan hundreds of channels to find exactly what you feel like listening to. The Delphi Roady XT is also "the world’s smallest plug-and-play satellite XM radio," according to CNET.com.
3. S-Plug Universal Earplug Speakers - These speakers are tiny and comfortable enough to wear for hours and powerful enough to give you the volume and clarity you want when you’re out on the open road. According to CycleGadgets.com, "when inserted into the ear canal, literally nothing but a thin cable extends through the outer ear," meaning that you won’t feel any irritating discomfort since the wires won’t be rubbing against your helmet.
4. Reflective Tape - Maintaining your visibility on the road is hard enough during daylight, and it just gets worse when night falls. Make sure everyone else on the road can see you by applying reflective tape to your helmet. The blog WebBikeWorld.com has good advice for choosing the best reflective gear for your bike. Check out their Web site, and make sure that the next time you jump on your motorcycle or scooter, you won’t be invisible to other drivers.
5. Helmet SunBlocker - CycleGadget.com writes, "the SunBlocker is a UV-blocking dark green strip" that you can put on the inside of your helmet and face shield to give extra protection from the blinding sun. If you’ve planned a road trip that’s going to keep you riding day after day, you must buy the SunBlocker to protect your eyes, increase visibility, and reduce your chance of getting into an accident.
6. CrampBuster - The CrampBuster is available in several different sizes and variations to ensure prime levels of comfort while it helps with cruise control. All you have to do is wrap the CrampBuster around your grips, and it’s ready to start working for you. As the "original cruise assist," the CrampBuster also comes with a replacement guarantee: if it breaks, just notify the company so that they can send you a new one.
7. Back-A-Line Support Belt - If you’re going to be riding all day and night, your back is probably going to ache. Once your back gives out, your whole body will have to work extra hard just to ride normally. To avoid cramping up, strap on the Back-A-Line belt hugs your lower back, giving it support and ensuring comfort. After reading the review at WebBikeWorld, purchase online at CycleGadgets.com
8. Legal Speeding Adjustable Plate Mount - One of the most frustrating parts about bringing along your favorite gadgets for a cross-country ride is having to worry about them staying attached to your bike. Legal Speeding’s Adjustable Plate Mount is compatible with most made-for-motorcycle gadgets, and it allows you to move the plate up and down so that you can adjust your toys according to your height and comfort level.
9. Quick Changer Oil Drain Kit - In case you find your bike due for an oil change when you’re miles away from a maintenance and repair shop, you should take along a mini oil change kit. This product, found at CycleGadgets.com, allows you to quickly and cleanly change your oil yourself.
10. Corbin Glovebox - The Corbin glovebox is an easy way to hide your valuables without taking up any extra room on your bike. Disguised as a backrest, the glovebox is sleek, roomy, "comes fully lined to protect your cargo and even has a nice weather stripping around the door opening," according to the Corbin product description.
11. Chatterbox FRS Communicators - If you’re traveling with a buddy, you’re going to want to stay in contact to avoid getting separated, keep yourselves entertained, and to keep from falling asleep. You’d probably have a hard time hearing your friend with a cell phone, and you’d probably end up wasting a lot of valuable minutes. Instead, stay connected with the FRS Communicators, which let you and your travel buddy talk privately on two different communication channels. CycleGadgets.comCycleGadgets.com boasts, "the radio, battery pack, and intercom are all housed in a compact unit that can be clipped directly to the side of your helmet," so you never have to worry about keeping both hands on your bike.
12. Motolight Driving Lights - Motolight has designed several different lights to supplement the ones already on your bike, maximizing your visibility even on the darkest roads. If you’re traveling cross-country, there’s a good chance you’re going to be unfamiliar with some of the highways and other pathways you plan on riding, so it’s best to make sure you’re prepared with as much light as possible.
13. Ace Classic Saddle Bag - This rugged, spacious saddle bag is perfect for your clothes, gear, and toiletries during the perfect no-frills road trip across the country. Though the Ace bag is pricey, it’s durable enough to sit on the back of your bike in all types of weather.
14. Yuasa Battery Tester - Bring along a Yuasa Battery Tester to determine whether or not you need to replace your bike’s battery. Sometimes, it just needs to be recharged, so you’ll be glad to know for sure before shelling out the extra cash.
15. Dowco Guardian Custom Bike Cover - Whether you’re worried about severe weather damaging your bike, or you just don’t want anyone to be tempted to steal your beautiful motorcycle, you’re going to want to cover it up at night for protection. The Dowco Guardian Custom Bike Cover is big enough to cover your bike from tip to tip and all the way down to the ground.
16. Motorola Universal Bluetooth Helmet Headset Kit HS830 - This helmet-headset combination allows you to talk for up to 6 hours on your Bluetooth phone without recharging. Since it’s already firmly attached to your helmet, you don’t have to worry about the Bluetooth connection falling off your bike or having to hold onto it instead of bike. The microphone also has a noise-reducing feature, which "helps reduce unwanted background noise," according to the Motorola product description.
17. Kuryakyn Magnum Plus Mirror - If you’ve been having trouble relying on your side mirrors because they don’t reach out far enough, you need to invest in these durable magnums. The Kuryakyn Magnum Plus Mirrors extend 2" farther than standard side mirrors, letting you see more of the road and the drivers around you.
18. Hardo Krome 3 in. RES-TEC End Caps - These shiny end caps come in a variety of colors, allowing you to personalize your bike at the same time you limit the amount of exhaust that spews out of it. Buy different colors so that you can switch them out every once in a while to spice up your look.
19. Corbin Ovalbac Backrest - This backrest makes riding even very long distances comfortable. Corbin boasts that this particular model is their "most popular backseat by far," so if you’re looking for a snazzy way to update your bike without sacrificing comfort, you should check out the Ovalbac.
20. RoadGear Sport Touring Tool Pouch - This tool pouch from CycleGadgets.com comes in several different color combinations and "packs a LOT of storage into a little space." If you’re planning to travel a long distance, your bike will probably end up needing some sort of tune up along the way. Stash this tool supply alongside your other gear to keep your mind on the road, not on maintenance.

Investing in a few or all of these toys for your bike will keep you entertained and focused during your cross-country adventure. Simple maintenance tools, specialty helmets, and cozy backrests are all you need to having the best trip of your life. Now that you’ve checked out our list, you know how to pimp out your bike as well as make sure you’re safe and comfortable along the way. Happy trails.

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